My issue with the Edition

[Piggie]

They're not going to sell that many or make much money off of the Edition, as it is a limited edition. It's a halo product to bring in the respect of people in the fashion or high wealth circles of the world.

Now, if things work out, maybe they will start making more and more high end pieces. I'd say it is likely, and it's a wise move.

Jony Ive is one of the world's most famous and revered designers, along with Marc Newson. Why do we think his designs are less valuable than other designers? Have you seen the prices of Newson's Ikepod watches, from which the Apple Watch is likely derived?

The problem is, I don't think it will do.
I think it will be seen as a low end cheap product in a gold case.
I don't feel it will be seen as an actual high end product.

Of course, it's only my viewpoint

 

[jdechko]

Therein lies the issue, Apple already has an image problem with people assuming that their products are more expensive.

...

Now the narrative is Apple likes to produce expensive products because people are foolish enough to pay those prices just because there is an Apple logo on it. Yes that narrative exists already, but like I said you can fight back with the above statement so there is a competing and equally valid narrative. Especially because there are well built PCs in the market too, and they cost about as much as Mac.

I agree with most of what you said, especially this part. Apple has a history of releasing "expensive" products that later catch on and become mainstream consumer products. iPod and iPhone come to mind, but even those were reasonably priced against competing products. But this Edition Watch is something new. At first glance, it looks like a super-expensive smartwatch, between 10x and 40x the price of other smartwatches. And that confuses people or pisses them off. But if you look at it from the other direction, that it's a high-end fashion accessory with smartwatch features, it starts to make a little more sense. Unfortunately, the mainstream looks at it as a 10x-40x more expensive gadget.

That's the point of the Edition. You're not going to see many people wearing them. Either way, lots of celebs where Rolexes, and millions of those are sold every year or two.

I think some analysts say that Rolex sells less than 1m per year. And I think that includes all models from the "cheap" $5k models to the 30k+ models. If the percentage of Editions sold is 1% of the total number sold, I will be surprised. The way Apple framed it was a limited edition, sold in only a few stores.

See, I'd actually feel a bit of a cock wearing an Edition Watch.

Do the American's here know what I mean by that phrase?

It would not give me a feeling of, look at me, see my watch, I'd wear it, covering it up, as I'd guess what people would think, and I'd rather them not think that.

I'd see it as a negative view. But then again, I know Americans have a different take on the obvious display of wealth than the British, so perhaps that's it.

There is classy, and expensive and VERY understated, then there is gold bling, and British with any real class are generally not into the gold bling.
It's more the total opposite.

I'm guessing it's roughly equivalent to D-bag.

Most Americans probably have similar views about showing off wealth, but other countries (mostly eastern, from what I've heard) don't have such qualms about it, and actually embrace shows of wealth. I think that between those countries, fashion/ celebs, and show-offs, the Edition will be popular.

Hell, even Tim Cook wears the Stainless model with a fluoroelsatomer rolleyes band. If he wanted an Edition, I'm sure he might be able to secure one.

 

[NewbieCanada]

Apple has become a different company now. It seems like Ives is bored (really, what else can he do to a laptop anyway). I think the watch is ugly, but maybe in future iterations it will have a defibrillator function or other useful rather than showy health aid. That will expand its market. In the meantime, you couldn't pay me to haul it around on my wrist.

Shucks, and I was so looking forward to paying you too.

 

[douglasf13]

The problem is, I don't think it will do.
I think it will be seen as a low end cheap product in a gold case.
I don't feel it will be seen as an actual high end product.

Of course, it's only my viewpoint

Do you remember when the iPhone was new and considered expensive? I saw wealthy housewives all over Beverly Hills flashing them around with pride. Now that the iPhone is mainstream, it's all blingy iPhone cases for the same women. I can see some women buying multiple versions of the Edition for different outfits, once they decide it's a useful piece of tech.

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I think some analysts say that Rolex sells less than 1m per year. And I think that includes all models from the "cheap" $5k models to the 30k+ models. If the percentage of Editions sold is 1% of the total number sold, I will be surprised. The way Apple framed it was a limited edition, sold in only a few stores.

Yeah, I think it's closer to a half million per. That's why I said every year or two.

 

[NewbieCanada]

But then again, I know Americans have a different take on the obvious display of wealth than the British, so perhaps that's it.

There is classy, and expensive and VERY understated, then there is gold bling, and British with any real class are generally not into the gold bling.
It's more the total opposite.

This of course is why Harrod's only operates in the USA and not in Britain. :roll eyes:

This is why there is no tabloid press in Britain, no OK or Hello or Heat magazines - all because the Brits have SUCH a different take on the obvious display of wealth. It's also why it's the Americans have a bunch of inbred fops going around displaying themselves for the common folk to marvel at.

The percentage of Britons with "real class" is, as in every other nation, a shockingly small percentage of those with money. And definitely no higher than in the United States, despite how many smug Brits like to pretend so.

Not an American, by the way.

 

[leenak]

They're not going to sell that many or make much money off of the Edition, as it is a limited edition. It's a halo product to bring in the respect of people in the fashion or high wealth circles of the world.

Now, if things work out, maybe they will start making more and more high end pieces. I'd say it is likely, and it's a wise move.

Jony Ive is one of the world's most famous and revered designers, along with Marc Newson. Why do we think his designs are less valuable than other designers? Have you seen the prices of Newson's Ikepod watches, from which the Apple Watch is likely derived?

Do you really think people who don't buy Apple products and aren't designers themselves know about Jony Ive? I mean designing an electronic equipment is different than designing jewelry. I think the apple watch is fine for an electronic design but I'm not a fan of the design for jewelry. How many people do you think would pay $10k or even $1k for the apple watch if it only told the time?

 

[jdechko]

The percentage of Britons with "real class" is, as in every other nation, a shockingly small percentage of those with money. And definitely no higher than in the United States, despite how many smug Brits like to pretend so.

Exactly, class has little to do with how much money one has, or what kind of watch one wears.

However, I will draw the line at computers. Mac users are clearly better than PC users. (<-Sarcasm, BTW)

 

[Piggie]

Do you really think people who don't buy Apple products and aren't designers themselves know about Jony Ive? I mean designing an electronic equipment is different than designing jewelry. I think the apple watch is fine for an electronic design but I'm not a fan of the design for jewelry. How many people do you think would pay $10k or even $1k for the apple watch if it only told the time?

Have you heard of the saying "Less is more" ?

I actually believe Apple could sell a watch that only showed the time, make is beautifully (not a fat lump)
Fine detailed craftsman shape, a beautiful work of art, with a simple function of the time.
Perhaps in a way that showed the time, all the time using colour e-ink or some other display.

and it would be far far classier and easier to see a true value

 

[douglasf13]

Do you really think people who don't buy Apple products and aren't designers themselves know about Jony Ive? I mean designing an electronic equipment is different than designing jewelry. I think the apple watch is fine for an electronic design but I'm not a fan of the design for jewelry. How many people do you think would pay $10k or even $1k for the apple watch if it only told the time?

Great designers usually have a large variety of things that they work on. Look at what Marc Newson has done in his career. Have you seen his Ikepod watches? They certainly have a similar DNA, and I'd spend more than $1K on one of those. I love watches of all types and price ranges, and I think the Apple Watch is beautiful and well designed, particularly the steel models.

I'm probably going to buy the space black steel Apple Watch, and, if I find it as useful as I expect, I may start selling some of my mechanicals.

 

[Arran]

... I don't think Tim Cook would challenge Jony the way Steve would on design.

I think Jobs had a way of moderating Jony's work so they appeal to the masses. Not being moderated, Jony's designs are quite aggressive in what I'd call extravagant simplicity. Jony is an artist, not a businessman. He seems more concerned about his vision than diluting something to have wide appeal. Which is why iOS 7 is so polarizing.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[leenak]

Have you heard of the saying "Less is more" ?

I actually believe Apple could sell a watch that only showed the time, make is beautifully (not a fat lump)
Fine detailed craftsman shape, a beautiful work of art, with a simple function of the time.
Perhaps in a way that showed the time, all the time using colour e-ink or some other display.

and it would be far far classier and easier to see a true value

They could design a watch that is beautiful... but they didn't, they designed a watch that is functional (hopefully).

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Great designers usually have a large variety of things that they work on. Look at what Marc Newson has done in his career. Have you seen his Ikepod watches? They certainly have a similar DNA, and I'd spend more than $1K on one of those. I love watches of all types and price ranges, and I think the Apple Watch is beautiful and well designed, particularly the steel models.

I'm probably going to buy the space black steel Apple Watch, and, if I find it as useful as I expect, I may start selling some of my mechanicals.

See I have no use for a watch. I don't think the apple watch is beautiful. If it was just a watch, I wouldn't buy it. I looked up Ikepod, definitely not my style.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

They could design a watch that is beautiful... but they didn't, they designed a watch that is functional (hopefully).

That's the problem! A watch is jewelry, its meant to be beautiful. Id I need the time, I have 10 other gadgets within my reach that have a clock. It needs to be beautiful, not functional.

Or, apple could have made it functional, like a fit bit. But its too "fashionable" to have a 1 week battery life.

Jack if all trades, master of none. Or. A rMB.

 

[Night Spring]

I'd see it as a negative view. But then again, I know Americans have a different take on the obvious display of wealth than the British, so perhaps that's it.

There is classy, and expensive and VERY understated, then there is gold bling, and British with any real class are generally not into the gold bling.
It's more the total opposite.

I think there are some Americans who like to flaunt their wealth, but there are also Americans who are like the British and don't go for bling.

I do know, however, that there are a class of rich people in China who love to put gold on everything. And I hear there are groups like that in other parts of Asia and the Middle East.

I'm thinking that one of the reasons I haven't bought a smartwatch or fitness tracker yet is that most of them look like plastic toys that I wouldn't want to wear. I can imagine that there are some class of people who would look at the steel Apple watch, and not want to wear one because it doesn't match up to their idea of what a watch should be. I think the Edition is there to try to appeal to those people. Whether it makes sense for Apple to go after that market, I'm not sure. I think, if the Edition was priced around $5000, upper middle class Americans might consider it. But at $10,000, it seems like a totally frivolous waste of money.

 

[leenak]

That's the problem! A watch is jewelry, its meant to be beautiful. Id I need the time, I have 10 other gadgets within my reach that have a clock. It needs to be beautiful, not functional.

Or, apple could have made it functional, like a fit bit. But its too "fashionable" to have a 1 week battery life.

Jack if all trades, master of none. Or. A rMB.

Well that is why the watch isn't jewelry

I'm seriously thinking of skipping the first generation and getting a misfit swarovski. Lots of people like the misfit shine and they even make necklaces to use them with. The thing is I like gadgets which is why I doubt I'll skip the first gen of the apple watch. But I've worn ugly sports watches off and on for sports activities/exercise for years so I just lump it into that category. It provides a function even if isn't the greatest looking thing.